Diet Pepsi Ditches Aspartame As Primary Sweetener

Pepsico is taking a step forward when it comes to artificial sweeteners following backlash from customers.

The soda giant announced Monday that it will be replacing the much-maligned aspartame with a blend of sucralose -- or Splenda -- as the main sweetener in Diet Pepsi, Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi and Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi.

It's what's on the inside that counts. The crisp, refreshing taste of Diet Pepsi is now aspartame free. pic.twitter.com/7MJf8VBtqC
— Pepsi (@pepsi) August 10, 2015

@DrReevesDC Diet Pepsi will now feature a Sucralose blend to ensure the crisp and refreshing great taste of Diet Pepsi.
— Pepsi (@pepsi) August 10, 2015

"Diet cola drinkers in the U.S. told us they wanted aspartame-free Diet Pepsi and we're delivering," senior vice president Seth Kaufman said. "We recognize consumer demand is evolving and we're confident cola-lovers will enjoy the crisp, light taste of this new product."

A new marketing campaign will accompany the change with hopes that it will help the struggling product line increase sales. The decision follows a decline of 5.2 percent in Diet Pepsi's sales volume in 2014, according to Markets Morning.

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